Political Commentary & Opinion
Analysis, commentary, and opinion essays on politics and policy from The Daily Signal’s contributors and experts.
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opinion
Why the EPA Should Be Held Responsible for the Gold King Mine Spill
Companies should be held responsible for damage they cause to the environment. But what if it’s the government that has caused the damage? Recently the Environmental Protection Agency was responsible for a massive chemical spill into the Animas River in Colorado (an estimated 3 million gallons of wastewater were spilled). Health impacts are uncertain from… -
opinion
The Racist Views of Planned Parenthood’s Founder
In the wake of the recent and ongoing Planned Parenthood scandal regarding the harvesting and sale of baby hearts, livers, lungs, and other organs, late last week a group of black pastors requested that a bust of Margaret Sanger, the founder of Planned Parenthood, be removed from a temporary Smithsonian exhibit named, ironically, “Struggle for… -
news
Over 100 Volunteers Rehab Elderly Man’s Home After Hurtful Comments From Teens
For four years, Josh Cyganik passed by Leonard Bullock’s home in Pendleton, Oregon, each day on the way to work, silently waving and nodding at the 75-year-old man he knew only in passing. That all changed one morning when, to Cyganik’s horror, two teenagers made comments ridiculing the state of Bullock’s home—within his earshot. “They… -
news
After EPA Spills Toxic Waste in Colorado River, Nearby Residents Hope for Recovery
Days after a federal agency accidentally released millions of gallons of contaminated mine water into a major waterway, neighboring local businesses are speaking out about how the incident impacted them. On August 5, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency mistakenly discharged more than 3 million gallons of polluted water from an abandoned mine into the Animas… -
opinion
How Transformed Lives Are Transforming Communities in Need
The panel of presenters at a recent anti-poverty summit, hosted by Bob Woodson’s Center for Neighborhood Enterprise, did not fit the image of typical Washington policy experts. They ranged from a tattooed biker/pastor to a young black man who founded and once led the Dallas chapter of the notorious Bloods street gang. Their presentations were… -
opinion
The Questions John Kerry Should Demand Cuba Answer
There is a strong likelihood that when Secretary John Kerry raises the American flag in Havana this Friday, he will meet with General Raul Castro or other Cuban government officials who continue to support the FARC, a Colombian terrorist group. Neither Kerry nor President Obama want to ask embarrassing questions. The Washington Post recently called… -
news
3 States Defund and 13 States Investigate Planned Parenthood
The three states that recently denied taxpayers’ money to Planned Parenthood affiliates likely will be followed by others as public pressure mounts on governors and other state officials, regardless of whether Congress votes to defund the nation’s leading abortion provider. Defunding on the state level—as in Alabama, Louisiana, and New Hampshire—may not be as sharp… -
news
Scott Walker Approves Legislation Financing New Stadium for the Milwaukee Bucks
Gov. Scott Walker, R-Wis., has approved legislation that will use public funds to finance a new stadium for the Milwaukee Bucks basketball team. Wisconsin governor has committed $250 million in taxpayer money to fund new arena for @bucks. http://t.co/7UCGpyVXBF — NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) August 12, 2015 The bill pledges $250 million dollars from Wisconsin… -
opinion
The Government Finally Seized Clinton’s Email Server. Now a Full Investigation Can Occur.
A spokesman for former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton says that she has directed her staff to turn over the personal server through which she ran all of her work-related emails to the FBI and the U.S. Justice Department, as well as a thumb-drive, that have been in the possession of her lawyer, although they… -
news
New Mexico Appeals Court Rules Assisted Suicide ‘Is Not a Fundamental Liberty’
The New Mexico Court of Appeals reversed a lower court ruling on Tuesday that had created a right for doctors to help terminally ill patients die. Siding with the state’s attorney general, the appeals court ruled against physician-assisted suicide, and said, “[A]id in dying is not a fundamental liberty interest under the New Mexico Constitution.”… -
opinion
The Big Red Machine Sputters
On Tuesday and Wednesday, the People’s Bank of China (PBoC) devalued the renminbi by almost 4 percent, the most significant two-day devaluation since the mid-1990s. While the markets speculated whether this signaled the beginning of a currency war, the devaluation is not really the important story. Strong Renminbi in Recent Years First, the renminbi has… -
news
In New Video, Former StemExpress Employee Says Fetal Body Parts Were Obtained Without Consent
The Center for Medical Progress has released another video of a former StemExpress employee discussing the harvesting of aborted fetal body parts at Planned Parenthood clinics. In the video, episode 2 of its “Human Capital” series, Holly O’Donnell, a former blood and tissue procurement technician for StemExpress, criticized Planned Parenthood, saying, “I’m not going to… -
news
A Year After Ferguson Rioters Damaged Her Shop, Woman Rebuilding With Tea Party’s Help Is Robbed Again
This week, on the one-year anniversary of Michael Brown’s death, a familiar image came out of Ferguson, Mo., as protesters faced off against police in the city just as they did 12 months ago. For one business owner, a night of rioting and looting disrupted a year of rebuilding not just her business, but a… -
opinion
3 Ways Planned Parenthood May Be Violating the Law
Many Planned Parenthood supporters have decried the Center for Medical Progress for releasing “highly edited” video, despite the fact CMP has also released the full, unedited videos. Planned Parenthood claims that is has broken no laws. Yet a number of statements made in the undercover videos raise serious questions about whether some Planned Parenthood affiliates… -
opinion
Should You Be Able to Shoot Down a Drone Spying on Your Backyard? One Dad Was Arrested.
Lawmakers are responding to controversies involving drones in neighborhoods, where increasing use (even for pizza delivery) is raising national debates over rights to privacy, property, and self-defense. One operator flew his drone dangerously close to a passenger plane on its final approach to a Dallas airport. Another stopped fire-fighting helicopters from extinguishing wildfires. One even… -
opinion
4 out of 5 Atheists and Agnostics Think Photographer Has Right to Say No to Gay Wedding
A recently released poll shows significant public support for the protection of religious liberty—especially when special rights based on sexual orientation are being advanced at its expense. The results reveal hope for the classical liberal vision of America: they indicate that most Americans still appear to want maximum freedom and individual rights protection. According to… -
news
Columnist Reconsiders Pro-Choice Stance After Release of Planned Parenthood Videos
It’s been forty years since the practice of abortion was made legal, and a lot of Americans are either passionately pro-life or pro-choice, wearing their labels like bandanas around their heads. Another group of people take a more sideline approach to the abortion issue, slipping their bandanas into a back pocket when necessary. … -
news
18 Unbelievable Photos From the 2015 National Geographic Traveler Photo Contest
The National Geographic Traveler photography contest is known for its out-of-this-world images of Earth. This year’s contest, the 27th of its kind, did not disappoint. Judges meticulously combed through over 17,000 entries in four categories (Travel Portraits, Outdoor Scenes, Sense of Place, and Spontaneous Moments) to select first-, second-, and third-place winners, who will receive… -
news
Republicans Splinter Over Planned Parenthood Defund Strategy
The fate of a spending bill required to keep the government running remains uncertain as Republicans enter the August recess divided over tactics to strip federal funding from Planned Parenthood. A handful of conservative lawmakers have threatened to reject the measure needed to keep the government open unless Planned Parenthood funding is removed, splintering from… -
opinion
Repeated International Violations Prove Iran Cannot Be Trusted in Deal
Under the terms of the recently finalized nuclear deal (Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action), Iran will now have less oversight and restrictions on its nuclear program than the White House will admit. The Obama administration, striving to convince lawmakers and the American people that Iran will be punished if it violates the new deal, has…